Trussville, Alabama – A tragic incident involving an antique firearm has led to reckless manslaughter charges against a 54-year-old man in Trussville, Alabama. Jeffrey Scott Towers was taken into custody on May 11, more than two months after 22-year-old Whitney Harlow Robeson was fatally shot at his residence on March 7. Robeson, a recent college graduate with a promising career, was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly after the shooting.
"Whitney lived with inimitable grace; keen, quiet attentiveness and loyalty; boundless generosity and an uncanny way of always knowing just what she needed to do." — Robeson Family, Obituary
According to authorities, the incident occurred at Towers’ Deer Trail home around 9:30 p.m. on March 7. Robeson was visiting her boyfriend, Brandon Towers, when his father, Jeffrey Scott Towers, was reportedly showcasing a collection of antique firearms. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office autopsy report indicates that Mr. Towers picked up a Colt Navy single-action revolver, which he reportedly believed to be unloaded. The weapon discharged, and the bullet struck Robeson in the chest, causing severe internal injuries to her left lung, heart, and aorta. First responders transported her to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10:40 p.m. The coroner’s office initially classified the incident as an accidental homicide.
For over two months following the shooting, the case remained open as Trussville police conducted what they described as an extensive investigation. Detectives eventually obtained an arrest warrant for Jeffrey Scott Towers, who was subsequently booked into the Jefferson County Jail without incident on May 11. He was later released after posting a $30,000 bond. Court records have not yet revealed specific details of the shooting or the evidence supporting the charges against Towers, beyond the allegation that he shot Robeson. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 22.
Towers’ legal team, attorneys John Amari and Dain Stewart of the Amari Law Firm, promptly issued a public statement rejecting criminal liability for their client. “What happened to Ms. Robeson was a tragic event,” their statement read. “While we understand that the justice system must play out, we know that the facts will show that Mr. Towers has no criminal history, has been a productive and upstanding citizen for his entire life, and is not guilty of these charges.”
In response, Andrew J. Moak of Turnbull, Moak & Pendergrass, an attorney representing the Robeson family, issued a separate statement pushing back on the defense’s characterization. The specifics of Moak's statement were not detailed in the available information.
Whitney Harlow Robeson was remembered by her family and community as a bright and accomplished young woman. She had graduated summa cum laude from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in interior design. Her family noted that she had pursued her childhood passion for home renovation, inspired by television programs, into a professional career. At the time of her death, she had just begun working as a trade consultant at Restoration Hardware in Birmingham, a role her family described as her dream job.
Despite her brief tenure, her colleagues and supervisor at Restoration Hardware were reportedly struck by her kindness, talent, attentiveness, and integrity from the start, according to her family’s published obituary. Robeson, originally from Richmond, Virginia, was a graduate of the Collegiate School. Her family’s obituary painted a deeply personal picture: “Whitney lived with inimitable grace; keen, quiet attentiveness and loyalty; boundless generosity and an uncanny way of always knowing just what she needed to do.” Her sorority also released a public tribute following her death, stating, “We are incredibly grateful to have shared in her friendship, and our chapter will forever cherish the memories we made together.”
In the wake of their grief, Robeson’s loved ones have established "Wrapped in Whitney’s Love," an initiative designed to honor her generous spirit. This program aims to provide swaddles and essential supplies directly to new mothers and their newborns, offering young families a stronger start in life. The initiative serves as a poignant tribute to a young woman whose life was cut short, embodying the boundless generosity her family cherished. The ongoing legal proceedings aim to bring clarity and accountability to the tragic incident that claimed Whitney Robeson’s life, as the community grapples with the profound loss.
